• 
  Korean businessman rescued from kidnappers in Peru SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - A Korean businessman who was kidnapped in Peru has been safely rescued the following day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday. The man in his 60s, whose name was not disclosed, was kidnapped on Tuesday in Lima shortly after meeting with an acquaintance. His family immediately contacted police after an unknown man answered his cell phone when an employee from his company tried to reach him. Peruvian police said the kidnappers, who had de September 26, 2024
• 
  Brazilian Embassy celebrates 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties with Korea SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - The Brazilian Embassy in Seoul held a reception Wednesday to celebrate 65 years of diplomatic relations with South Korea and Brazil's 202nd independence anniversary. During the event at a hotel in central Seoul, Brazilian Ambassador Marcia Donner Abreu expressed gratitude for the continued support that has strengthened Brazil-Korea relations. "Despite the geographical distance and having cultures and societies so strikingly different from each September 26, 2024
• 
  SK hynix begins mass production of 12-layer HBM3E chips SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - SK hynix announced Thursday that it has started mass production of the world's first 12-layer HBM (High Bandwidth Memory) 3E chips. The 36GB chip, designed for artificial intelligence chipsets, features DRAMs that are 40 percent thinner than previous versions, increasing capacity by 50 percent while maintaining the same overall thickness, according to the world's second-largest memory chip maker. Operating at 9.6 gigabits per second, a single g September 26, 2024
• 
  Korea to launch first late-night autonomous taxi service SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - Korea's first late-night autonomous taxi service is set to begin in southern Seoul on late Thursday. The city announced the late-night service will operate in a designated self-driving test area in Gangnam, spanning 11.7 square kilometers, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on weekdays. Rides will be free before paid service begins next year. Three vehicles will be available through the Kakao T taxi-hailing app. Users will see a "Seoul Self-Driving Ca September 26, 2024
• 
  Korean cooking show becomes most-watched non-English series on Netflix in its debut week SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - Netflix's latest Korean show debuted as the most-watched non-English series worldwide in its first week. Reality show "Culinary Class Wars" garnered 3.8 million views about a week after its release on Sept. 17, the U.S. video-streaming site said on Wednesday. In the 12-episode survival show, 80 lesser-known chefs, referred to as "Black Spoon," compete against 20 celebrity chefs known as "White Spoon" in an intense culi September 26, 2024
• 
  Korea, Serbia launch free trade negotiations SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - South Korea and Serbia began free trade agreement negotiations Thursday, marking Seoul's first such pact with a Balkan country. Korean Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo and Serbian Minister of Domestic and Foreign Trade Tomislav Momirović launched talks for an Economic Partnership Agreement in Seoul. An EPA, a form of FTA, includes broader economic cooperation beyond tariff reductions. Serbia, in southeastern Europe, has significant reserves of crit September 26, 2024
• 
  OPINION: European Union is becoming too obsessed with defense SEOUL, September 26 (AJP) - A new team of 26 leaders has been appointed to the European Commission, reflecting a carefully crafted balance of political ideologies and member states. Each will take on a different portfolio, from democracy to agriculture to innovation. And for the first time, the EU will have a dedicated defense commissioner in the form of Lithuania's Andrius Kubilius. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has made it clear that in her second term, the prim September 26, 2024
• 
  PHOTOS: Suspense thriller "A Normal Family" to hit theaters next month SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - A press conference for the upcoming film "A Normal Family" was held at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday. Director Hur Jin-ho and actors Sol Kyung-gu, Jang Dong-gun, Kim Hee-ae, and Su Hyun were in attendance. "A Normal Family" is a suspense thriller that follows four individuals whose lives begin to crumble after they witness CCTV footage of a crime scene involving their children. Based on Dutch author Herman Koch& September 25, 2024
• 
  Korea Zinc seeks to block takeover bid with core technology designation SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Korea's largest zinc smelter, Korea Zinc, has applied to have its technology for manufacturing electric vehicle battery precursors designated as a national core technology in a bid to fend off a hostile takeover attempt by former partner Young Poong and private equity firm MBK Partners. "We submitted an application for national core technology designation yesterday," a Korea Zinc official said on Wednesday. "The technology in question September 25, 2024
• 
  Samsung, Hyundai partner to integrate IoT platform with vehicle infotainment SEOUL, September 25 (AJP) - Samsung Electronics has partnered with Hyundai Motor Group to integrate its Internet of Things (IoT) platform into the automaker's in-vehicle infotainment systems. The two Korean conglomerates signed a memorandum of understanding Wednesday, to integrate Samsung’s SmartThings into the software-defined vehicles (SDV) systems being developed by three Hyundai affiliates – Hyundai Motor Co., Kia Corp. and 42dot. This integration September 25, 2024